Fire rekindles at Waterford landfill

Waterford – Firefighters returned to the town’s former landfill on Miner Lane Monday where a fire rekindled in a massive brush fire.

Fire crews from four departments in town initially responded to the blaze at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday. A brush pile, 50 feet high and 300 feet long, sent flames into the air and smoke into surrounding towns.

Goshen Fire Chief Don Chapman said three payloaders were used to separate the brush as firefighters doused the flames. No injuries were reported, he said.

Chapman said the fire was under control by 1:30 a.m. Monday morning and firefighters and public works crews remained at the scene until mid-morning to ensure the brush did not reignite.

They returned at about 3:30 p.m. for reports of smoke in the area and found a pile of mulch smoldering near the scene of the fire. Firefighters spent more than two hours at the scene.

Chapman said the brush is stored at the landfill before being turned into mulch. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters from Goshen, Jordan, Oswegatchie and Quaker Hill were at the scene Sunday. Tankers for Oakdale and Center Groton fire departments also responded.